The 2023 Kalamazoo College softball team will begin its season with a road doubleheader on Mar. 5 at Franklin. The Hornets will look to build off their best season in program history and jump into the top four of the MIAA after finishing fifth in 2022. The team has been preparing for the season since their first practice on Jan. 23.
Schedule Breakdown
- The Hornets will begin their season with a road doubleheader at Franklin on Mar. 5.
- Kalamazoo will head to Florida for spring break from Mar. 16-23. The team will play 12 games against 12 different opponents.
- After one more road doubleheader to finish March, the Hornets will open April with three straight home doubleheaders. The home opener will be against Bluffton on Apr. 2.
- The MIAA opener will be at home against Alma on Apr. 5.
- Four of the following five doubleheaders will be on the road, including a non-conference matchup against Defiance.
- The Hornets will finish their home doubleheader against Albion on Apr. 27 and Trine on May 1.
- Kalamazoo will finish the regular season with its final MIAA doubleheader at Calvin on May 3 and a non-conference doubleheader at Anderson on May 6.
Roster Breakdown
- Kalamazoo returns 10 of the 14 players from the 2022 squad. In addition, there will be six newcomers to increase the total to 16 for the 2023 season.
- The team will be comprised of two seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, and six freshmen on the young team.
Returning Statistical Leaders
- The Hornets return their top three hitters from last season, including All-MIAA First Team member Lucy Hart, who hit .415 with 44 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 30 RBI, 28 runs scored, and 12 walks in 32 games.
- Also coming back is All-MIAA Second Team member Lizzy Rottenberk, who had a batting average of .384 in 34 games. She led the team with 48 hits, 33 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases while also having seven doubles, a triple, a home run, 23 RBI, and 11 walks.
- Sam Moss is a two-way player for Kalamazoo, finishing with a .318 hitting percentage, 35 hits, six doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, 26 runs scored, and 11 walks. In the circle, Moss had a 10-6 record and finished with a 3.00 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 102.2 innings.
- The Hornets' other returning pitcher is Jordan Cook, who was 8-5 with a 4.33 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 76 innings.
- Bella Caza, Amy McNutt, and Julia Rambo all return after appearing in at least 30 games last season.
Stepping Up
- Natalie Gross, Brynna Garden, and Mackenzie Moore will look to increase their playing time and replace the four players that didn't return.
- Jaycee Rider, Madyson Groth, Francesca Ventura, Cecilia Schihl, Emma Newlove, and Maya Peters will enter their first year of collegiate softball, looking to make an impact on the Hornets.
Head Coach Kelli Duimstra
Coach Duimstra is set to begin her sixth season as the head coach of the Hornets. In her first five seasons, Duimstra has coached three different All-MIAA performers. She joined the Hornet softball program with plenty of MIAA experience as she served as the assistant coach at Hope College from 2014-17. Before her time coaching the Flying Dutch, Duimstra was an assistant coach at Hudsonville High School from 2010-14 and helped coach the team to two MHSAA State Championships. During her playing career at Hope, Duimstra was the MIAA's Most Valuable Player and was named first-team All-Region and first-team All-American following her senior year.
Quoting Coach Duimstra
"I'm really excited to build on the record-breaking season we had last year. Our team is really motivated to make our on-field results from last season the new norm for this program, and our preseason work reflects that motivation. We've had four great weeks of practice so far and I'm really proud of the work our student-athletes have put in."